Shield pads for vehicle doors and sides

ABSTRACT

Shield pads are removably attachable to a vehicle side and doors to protect against dents and scratches, as by impacts by doors of adjacent vehicles. The shield pads are preferably detachably mounted by one or more suction cups on each pad. Spaced-apart straps extend between the shield pads. An elastic strap extends from one shield pad and is detachably attached when the shield pads are rolled up together. Ease of handling, maneuvering, rolling up and storage of the shield pads, are provided.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention provides protective shields to absorbimpacts and prevent damage to vehicle doors and sides, which maytypically be caused by impacts from doors of adjacently parked vehicles,particularly when such doors are opened with excessive force.

[0002] Protective shields or pads of the prior art for protection ofvehicle sides and doors are characterized by a variety of shortcomingsand defects. Many such devices are too expensive to manufacture to beappropriate for broad application to a general market. Some do notfunction adequately to protect sides and doors from dents and scratches,and many provide protection only to a limited area because of theirrelatively small size. Many require substantial time and effort toinstall, to remove, and to package and store.

[0003] According to the present invention, a removably attachableshielding is provided for vehicle sides and doors, which typicallycomprises two shield pads of impact-absorbing material to protect thedoors and side surfaces of vehicles from impact dents and scratches,such as are caused by impacts by doors of adjacent vehicles. The shieldpads are formed of impact-absorbing material, and are removably attachedto a vehicle, typically by two suction cups on each pad.

[0004] At least one strap, and typically two straps, are attached to thelateral edge portions of the shield pads to attach them together. Anelastic strap is secured at an edge portion of one pad and is detachablysecurable to the other pad by snap-fasteners having cooperating portionson each pad or by Velcro fastener portions on the pads and on an endportion of the elastic strap, thus to provide for retaining pads whenrolled up by the strap being secured thereabout. These features enableease of handling, rolling up, storing, handling, and maneuvering of theshield pads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing shield pads of the inventionattached to the interior of a vehicle windshield by suction cups;

[0006]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of an automotive vehicle with twoshield pads according to the invention attached to the doors and sidesof the vehicle by suction cups on the pads;

[0007]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pads of FIGS. 1 and 2 rolledup together and secured by an elastic strap;

[0008]FIG. 4 is an elevational view of two shield pads attached togetherby straps;

[0009]FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a pad according to the inventionwith suction cups thereon and an elastic strap extending therefrom;

[0010]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of shield pads of FIG. 4 rolled uptogether and secured by an elastic strap; and

[0011]FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a suction cup attached toa shield pad.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] The present invention relates to shields removably attached tovehicle doors and or sides to prevent dents and scratches which maytypically be caused by the opening of doors of adjacent vehicles toimpact a side or door of the vehicle.

[0013] Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention comprises shields or pads 12, 14 which are interconnected byspaced-apart straps 16, 18 which are secured, as by riveting, to theshield pads, as shown (FIGS. 2 and 4). The shield pads are formed ofimpact-absorbing material which may comprise a blend of neoprene rubber,ethylene propylene, or styrene butatene rubber. A preferred material isethylene vinyl acetate or “EVA”.

[0014] Each shield pad has spaced-apart suction cups 20, 22 thereon fordetachably mounting the shield panel on glass or painted metal surfacesof a vehicle. FIG. 7 shows a suction cup 20 in cross-section. An elasticband or strap 24 is secured, as by riveting, to a lateral edge portionof shield pad 14 and has on its outer end portion a snap-fastener member26. A mating snap-fastener component 28 is disposed on the shield pad.

[0015] The elastic band 24 has at its outer end a snap-fastenercomponent engageable with a cooperating component 28, one componentbeing male and the other female. The components cooperate to effect thewrapping and securing of the pads together. Alternatively, Velcrofastener elastic band component 25 may engage end portions of shieldpad, and cooperate with Velcro components on the strap and on the shieldpads. Rolled-up pads are thus secured together by the elastic band, thusto provide ease of handling, maneuvering and rolling up of the shieldpads.

[0016] Each of the two shield pads may be used separately from the othershield pad by simply disengaging snap-fastener components of Velcroconnections between the straps and shield pads end portions.

[0017] The shields of the invention may serve as sunshades when mountedon the windshield of a vehicle. The shield pads may typically besupported atop an instrument panel of a vehicle with the suction cups ontheir upper portions attaching the pads to the upper portion of thewindshield, as indicated in FIG. 1. The visors adjacent to the vehiclewindshield may also serve to retain the pads with or without utilizingthe suction cups.

[0018] It will be understood that various changes and modifications maybe made from the preferred embodiments discussed above without departingfrom the scope of the present invention, which is established by thefollowing claims and equivalents thereof.

The inventor claims:
 1. Removably attachable shielding to protectvehicle side surfaces and doors to prevent dents and scratches imposedby doors of adjacent vehicles, said shielding comprising: two shieldpads of impact absorbing material, at least one suction cup on each ofsaid shield pads for removable attachment of the shield pad on avehicle, at least one strap secured to a lateral edge portion of each ofsaid shield pads to connect them together, an elastic strap having anend thereof secured to an edge portion of a first one of the shieldpads, and fastener means for detachably securing a second end portion ofthe elastic strap to a second one of the shield pads, whereby theprotective shields are removably attachable to vehicle sides and doors,and the shield pads are relatively easy to handle, roll up together, andstore.
 2. Shielding according to claim 1, wherein said two shield padsare sized and configurated to cover principal areas of a vehicle's sidesurfaces and doors.
 3. Shielding according to claim 1, wherein twospaced-apart straps extend between and are secured to lateral edgeportions of the two shield pads.
 4. Shielding according to claim 1,wherein two spaced-apart suction cups are provided on each of the shieldpads for attachment to the vehicle.
 5. Shielding according to claim 1,wherein: cooperating male and female snap fastener components aremounted, one on an end portion of the elastic strap and the other on anedge portion of one of the shield pads for securement of the shield padstogether when rolled up together.
 6. Shielding according to claim 1,wherein two spaced-apart straps are secured to an edge portion of eachof the shield pads by riveting.
 7. Shielding according to claim 1,wherein said elastic strap is attached to a central edge portion of oneof the shield pads and is detachably securable to a central edge portionof the other shield pad by one of (a) snap fasteners, (b) Velcroattachment.
 8. Shielding according to claim 1, wherein saidimpact-absorbing material comprises one of (a) a blend of neoprenerubber, (b) ethylene propylene, (c) styrene butatene rubber. 9.Shielding according to claim 1, wherein a preferred material for theshield pads is ethylene vinyl acetate.
 10. Shielding according to claim1, wherein said shield pads and suction cups are adapted and arrangedfor attachment to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield to serveas a sunshade.
 11. Removably attachable shielding to protect vehicleside surfaces and doors to prevent dents and scratches imposed by doorsof adjacent vehicles, said shielding comprising: two shield pads ofimpact-absorbing material, at least one suction cup on each of saidshield pads for removable attachment of the shield pad on a vehicle, twospaced-apart straps extending between and secured by lateral edgeportions of the two shield pads, an elastic strap having an end thereofsecured to an edge portion of a first one of the shield pads, andfastener means for detachably securing a second end portion of theelastic strap to a second one of the shield pads, whereby the protectiveshields are removably attachable to vehicle sides and doors, and theshield pads are relatively easy to handle, roll up together, and store.12. Shielding according to claim 11, wherein two spaced-apart suctioncups are provided on each of the shield pads for attachment to thevehicle.
 13. Shielding according to claim 11, wherein: cooperating maleand female snap fastener components are mounted, one on an end portionof the elastic strap and the other on an edge portion of one of theshield pads for securement of the shield pads together when rolled uptogether.
 14. Shielding according to claim 11, wherein two spaced-apartstraps are secured to an edge portion of each of the shield pads byriveting.
 15. Shielding according to claim 11, wherein said elasticstrap is attached to a central edge portion of one of the shield padsand is detachably securable to a central edge portion of the othershield pad by one of (a) snap fasteners, (b) Velcro attachment. 16.Shielding according to claim 11, wherein said impact-absorbing materialcomprises one of (a) a blend of neoprene rubber, (b) ethylene propylene,(c) styrene butatene rubber.
 17. Shielding according to claim 11,wherein a preferred material for the shield pads is ethylene vinylacetate.
 18. Shielding according to claim 11, wherein said shield padsand suction cups are adapted and arranged for attachment to an interiorsurface of a vehicle windshield to serve as a sunshade.
 19. Removablyattachable shielding to protect vehicle side surfaces and doors toprevent dents and scratches imposed by doors of adjacent vehicles, saidshielding comprising: two shield pads of impact-absorbing material, atleast one suction cup on each of said shield pads for removableattachment of the shield pad on a vehicle, at least one strap secured toa lateral edge portion of each of said shield pads to connect themtogether, an elastic strap having an end thereof secured to an edgeportion of a first one of the shield pads, said elastic strap beingattached to a central edge portion of one of the shield pads anddetachably securable to a central edge portion of the other shield padby one of (a) snap fasteners, (b) Velcro attachment, and fastener meansfor detachably securing a second end portion of the elastic strap to asecond one of the shield pads, whereby the protective shields areremovably attachable to vehicle sides and doors, and the shield pads arerelatively easy to handle, roll up together, and store.
 20. Shieldingaccording to claim 19, wherein said impact-absorbing material comprisesone of (a) a blend of neoprene rubber, (b) ethylene propylene, (c)styrene butatene rubber.
 21. Shielding according to claim 19, wherein apreferred material for the shield pads is ethylene vinyl acetate. 22.Shielding according to claim 19, wherein said elastic strap is attachedto a central edge portion of one of the shield pads and is detachablysecurable to a central edge portion of the other shield pad by one of(a) snap fasteners, (b) Velcro attachment.
 23. Shielding according toclaim 19, wherein said impact-absorbing material comprises one of (a) ablend of neoprene rubber, (b) ethylene propylene, (c) styrene butatenerubber.
 24. Shielding according to claim 19, wherein a preferredmaterial for the shield pads is ethylene vinyl acetate.